Mr. Cherny:
I started your latest book, "The Candy Bombers", last week. Just wanted to drop you a note (for what it's worth) to let you know how impressed I am with it thus far. I'm only 100 pages in, but after reading some truly impressive writing last evening I felt compelled to write. Your description as to what Berlin looked like before the war and Hitler and Speer's elaborate plans to make "Germania" a place of envy and magnificence to the rest of the world was both fascinating and chilling.
Your development of some of the main characters in the book, particularly of Lucius Clay, James Forrestal and Hal Halvorsen is extremely well-done and very effective. Even though I'm an avid reader, particularly of history, I very rarely finish volumes any longer; your book will most certainly be an exception in that regard.
I was interested to read some strong early reviews of your work, especially those from Publisher's Weekly and Kirkus Reviews. After only 100 pages I heartly concur with the Kirkus review in particular.
I hope that your travels to promote the book will include Austin, Texas. If so, I'll most definitely drop by to see you talk and perhaps have you autograph my volume; the first of hopefully many fine works of history from you in the future.
Again, thanks for the great read, and best of luck with the book.
-- Larry
Dear Larry,
Thanks for writing and reading -- and, in your case, finishing reading! I did want this book to be driven by its interesting characters and to capture the drama inherent in these often forgotten events so I am glad to hear that in your opinion I succeeded.
I am working on an Austin stop for later this summer so please keep checking the events listing at www.thecandybombers.com for continuing updates. Also if you or others have a book club that is reading The Candy Bombers, please let me know. I'd be glad to schedule a time to call in or otherwise participate.
-- Andrei